As you’ve likely heard by now, Anna Duggar welcomed her sixth child over the holiday weekend.
On November 27, Maryella Hope Grace Duggar entered the world weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
Like the rest of Josh and Anna’s kids, she was christened with a name that begins with the letter “M.”
But fans immediately suspected there was more to that moniker than meets the eye — and now we know they were right.
Take a look:
Welcome, Maryella
On November 27, Josh and Anna welcomed Maryella Hope Grace Duggar into the world. Now, they’re explaining why they chose such an unorthodox name.
What’s In a Name?
Maryella joins siblings Mackenzie, 9, Michael, 8, Marcus, 6, Meredith, 3, and Mason, 2. Needless to say, Josh and Anna have a thing for the letter “M.”
Maryella, Explained
Over the weekend, Anna Duggar took to Facebook and Instagram to explain the reasoning behind the choice.
A Shocking Loss
As you may recall, Josh’s grandmother, Mary Duggar passed away unexpectedly over the summer.
A Loving Tribute
The drowning death sent shockwaves through the close-knit Duggar crew, and as many fans suspected, Maryella’s name was chosen as a tribute to her late great-grandmother.
An In-Depth Overview
Anna Duggar offered a lengthy explanation of the decision making process on social media over the weekend.
The Story Behind the Name
“So many of you have asked…so here’s the story behind the name Maryella Hope!” she began.
Narrowing It Down
“Soon after we found out baby #6 was a girl we began name discussing name ideas and we thought we had it narrowed down,” Anna continued.
Irreplaceable
“When Josh’s grandma passed away we considered the name Mary, but we were hesitant because Grandma (Mary Duggar) was such a special lady and we wanted our daughter’s name to be a reminder of how special Grandma was and carry on her legacy, but without feeling like we were trying to replace her,” the mother of six continued.
Hyphen Hype
Anna went on to explain that the original plan was to create a more traditional name by combining “Mary” with a hyphenated middle name,
The List
“Soon, our baby name list that we had narrowed down to 3 names had grown to a list of about dozen Mary-hyphenated names,” Anna wrote.
Change of Heart
“As we continued chatting about names, Josh and I both fell in love with the name Maryella!” she continued.
Of Course
Not surprisingly, it seems Maryella’s middle names were chosen to reflect her parents’ ardent religious beliefs.
Hope Springs Eternal
“We chose Hope for her middle name because of the Hope we have because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection,” Anna explained. “Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of love and hope.”
Anna Explains
“Jesus layed [sic] down His sinless life on the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins and one day live with Him in heaven forever when we die. We have Hope because of Christ!” she continued.
The Duggar Baby Boom
Anna went on to explain that Maryella’s name reflects the circumstances of her gestation, particularly the Duggar baby boom that coincided with Anna’s announcement of her sixth pregnancy.
A Fertile Family
“During Maryella’s pregnancy there were so many unexpected joys, which included several more pregnancy announcements from family members!” Anna wrote.
Joys and Sorrows
Unfortunately, all that joy was tinged with sorrow, as both Lauren Swanson and Joy-Anna Duggar suffered miscarriages.
Remembering Lauren’s Loss
“We also grieved alongside those we love the most, remembering life is fragile and sometimes very short,” Anna continued.
Reunion On the Other Side
“Even through the grief of the loss of loved ones we know that we have comfort, hope and strength as we look forward to one day being reunited in heaven with Jesus and our loved ones who are waiting for us there!” she went on.
Blessings All Around
Anna wrapped things up by using the terminology that the Duggars always employ after welcoming a new bundle of joy.
Big-Time Blessings
“Maryella Hope Duggar is such a blessing and we are so grateful for her!” she concluded.
Tagged
She added the hashtag “#littleduggars” for good measure. It’s a phrase that the entire family has been using a lot lately.
A Positive Response
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Josh, the reaction to Maryella’s arrival has been overwhelmingly positive.
More Blessings
“Such a beautiful name and you did your grandmother proud. She is beautiful. God bless you both. Have a blessed Christmas,” wrote one fan on Facebook.
The Happy Couple
We’d like to add our voice to the chorus of those offering congrats to Josh and Anna!